Women's Studies Annual Service Award

INGRID WASHINAWATOK EL-ISSA SERVICE AWARD

... until we make peace with earth, there will be no peace in the human community.- Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa

The Women's Studies Program at Southern Connecticut State University seeks nominations
for the eighth annual Ingrid Washinawatok El- Issa Service Award for outstanding students
in community services. In Fall 2004, with then Vice President Richard Farricielli's
assistance, we established the service award in the Women's Studies Program in memory
of Ingrid Washinawatok El- Issa (1957-1999), a sister, hero, and warrior of all times.

A Reflection

A member of the Menominee Nation, Ingrid Opetaw Metaehmoh (Flying Eagle Woman) Washinawatok
El- Issa was among the most promising Native American leaders of her generation.
As activist, writer, public speaker, educator, and director of a philanthropic foundation
(Fund for Four Directions), she dedicated her life to the cause of Indigenous peoples
around the world. A devoted mother and wife, Ingrid was also a prominent leader of
the 36,000-member Native American community of New York City, co-founder of Indigenous
Women's Network and chair of the Indigenous Caucus in the UN. She was, too, a recipient
of numerous awards and honors. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum calls
Ingrid her "sister, mentor, and teacher," and to Noeli Pocaterra, elder, leader, and
former Vice President of the National Assembly , Venezuela , Ingrid is her "leader."

In February 1999, she visited the Uw'a Indians of Colombia with two companions, Lahe'enae
Gay and Terrence Freitas, in order to establish an Indigenous education program for
Uw'a children. As Ingrid and her companions were leaving to return home, they were
kidnapped on their way to the airport and killed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC) eight days later, on March 4, 1999.

The world, Indigenous and beyond, mourns deeply the loss of Ingrid-that mourning
has now turned into all forms of celebration of Ingrid's life, work, and legacy.
The establishment of this memorial service award is, indeed, a celebration of work
and service to the world. With this award, we help keep her spirit alive. We invite
nominations. Nominees should demonstrate, first and foremost, evidence of and commitment
to community service and, then, academic performance of a GPA 3.0 or more. Faculty
and community references are welcome. The award ceremony will take place at the conclusion
of the keynote event and before the reception at the 22nd Annual Women's Studies conference
in April 2016. This service award is also part of the SCSU university-wide honors
convocation, held at the end of each spring semester.

We thank you in advance for your effort in helping us keep a heroic sister's memory
and legacy alive.

Resources

Flying Eagle Women Fund: The Flying Eagle Women Fund was created to honor the memory of Ingrid Washinawatok
El-Issa, an international human rights activist, and to continue the integrity and
spirit of her work for indigenous peoples.

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: Ingrid played a vital role in the creation of the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues. Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson said, "Ingrid
was known as a tireless defender of the rights of Indigenous peoples."